Virgin Islands Soil Surveys
The most common soil here is Southgate, on about 10% of the land: a gravelly loam, a balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. Glynn and Annaberg come next.
About 92% of the land drains well, and 4% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 3% of it.
USDA rates 96% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 82% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 5% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 70% of it.
Soils change over short distances, so look up an address below for the soil at that exact spot and the reasons behind each rating.
The soils you're most likely standing on
The biggest named soils in Virgin Islands, each drawn five feet deep from its official USDA description, in its recorded colors.
Dots mark gravel; white flecks mark lime. Shares are by acres across the survey area, and each mapped patch usually mixes several of these soils.
Virgin Islands has 1 USDA soil survey areas covering a wide range of landscapes and soil conditions. The most common soil order is Mollisols — grassland soils with a thick, dark, fertile topsoil rich in organic matter, making up roughly 61% of surveyed soils. Inceptisols — young soils with minimal horizon development but more than Entisols account for another 17%.
In terms of drainage, 95% of Virgin Islands soils are classified as well drained. Drainage class affects everything from septic system design to basement feasibility to garden planning. Use the survey area pages below to see drainage details for specific counties, or look up any address for an exact soil profile.